Famed daredevil Evel Knievel has reportedly filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against Kanye West claiming the Chicago bred rapper tarnished his image in the video for the single "Touch The Sky."
According to the St. Petersburg Times, the suit was filed in U.S. District Court. In the suit, Knievel accuses West of illegally using his image and tainting it with vulgar, sexual and racially charged content.

The "Touch the Sky" video features West as a daredevil named "Evel Kanyevel" who cavorts with actress Pamela Anderson before attempting to ride a rocket across a canyon.


In the video, West is dressed in a white star-spangled jumpsuit which is similar to the jumpsuit that Knievel wore while performing his stunts.
According to Knievel's lawsuit, the former daredevil trademarked his name and image in 2001. His attorney, Richard Fee, also revealed that the video mimics his client's famous attempt to jump the Snake River Canyon in 1974.

"It's not just a three-second snippet," Fee explained to The Times. "The whole video is about Kanye West portraying Evel Knievel. It's rather blatant and obvious."

Knievel, who is seeking royalty payments and damages, claims he is most concerned with the video's sexually charged content, which he says hurts his reputation as a role model for children.

"The guy just disgraced me. I have done the best I can to set an example for children, and then this guy comes along and tries to rip it apart," said Knievel. "In my opinion, this video maybe reflects West and his way of life, but it's sure not mine."

Knievel is also seeking a court order prohibiting West from using his image and hopes to halt showings of the video.

"I don't want my children or my grandchildren associated with this kind of thing," emphasized Knievel. "I want it stopped."

Knievel's suit also names Roc-A-Fella Records and the videos' director, Chris Milk.

West's publicist did not respond to a request for comment.
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Jada Pinkett Smith just made history at the school she and Tupac attended, generously donating $1 million earmarked for renovation and expansion.
Jada Pinkett Smith offered the funds from her Baltimore-based charity, the Will and Jada Smith Family Foundation. The couple had previously donated $112,500 to the Baltimore school.
Pinkett Smith's donation is the largest ever from a graduate of the BaltimoreSchool for the Arts. The school has announced plans to name their new theater after her, however Pinkett Smith has requested that the theater be dedicated to her late friend and former classmate Tupac Shakur.
"She knew how brilliant he was and just thought it was only fitting to dedicate it to him," Karen Banfield Evans, Pinkett Smith's aunt and executive director of the Smith Family Foundation told the Associated Press.
This latest donation will go towards a $30 million expansion that is expected to be complete by the fall of 2007. In addition to renovating a nearby brownstone mansion for classroom and rehearsal space, the expansion will provide the school with two dance studios, two science laboratories, four new classrooms, a lecture hall, six theater practice rooms, two theater rehearsal rooms, a scene shop, labs for digital photography and music production and a theater that seats 90 which will be named in honor of Jada Pinkett Smith. The expansion will allow the school to increase enrollment from 316 to 375 students. BaltimoreSchool for the Arts is also planning to increase stage production and instrumental music programs.
"She credits the School for the Arts for really giving her her start and was impressed by the things they've been doing and the way they've grown," Evans told the Associated Press. "When they came up with this (expansion campaign) and all they're doing, she felt like this is what she needed to do."
Jada Pinkett Smith graduated from the BaltimoreSchool for the Arts in 1989.
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